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Reports: Autopsy shows Michael Brown shot six times

For the second night in a row, police have placed a five-hour curfew on protesters in Ferguson, Missouri. The announcement came just before Michael Brown's family and Rev. Al Sharpton held a rally in support of justice for the teen.
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WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder on Sunday ordered a separate federal autopsy of a Missouri teen whose fatal shooting by a police officer prompted more than a week of racially charged demonstrations and clashes with local authorities.

Citing the "extraordinary'' nature of the case, Justice Department spokesman Brian Fallon said Holder directed the action at the request of the family of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black man shot by white Ferguson, Mo., Officer Darren Wilson.

"This independent examination will take place as soon as possible,'' Fallon said in written statement. "Even after it is complete, Justice Department officials still plan to take the state-performed autopsy into account in the course of their separate investigation.''

Late Sunday, The New York Times reported that a private autopsy requested by Brown's family found that he was shot at least six times, including four times in the right arm and twice in the head. All of the shots, the Times reported, were fired from Brown's front — a finding that could contradict a witness statement indicating that Brown was hit as he ran away from police.

A member of the Federal Protective Service asks demonstrators to stay off the steps leading to the Thomas F. Eagleton federal courthouse during a protest in St. Louis. About 100 protesters marched from city hall to the courthouse as they continue to press for broader reforms to local and federal law enforcement following the shooting death of Michael Brown by police. Jeff Roberson, AP

Members of the Tauheed Youth Group pray with demonstrators and members of the 'Justice for Michael Brown Leadership Coalition' during a march near the Buzz Westfall Justice Center in Clayton, Mo. Larry W. Smith, epa

People pray after marching about a mile to the police station to protest the shooting of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Brown's shooting on Aug. 9 by a Ferguson police officer has sparked more than week of protests, riots and looting in the St. Louis suburb. Charlie Riedel, AP

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder shakes hands with Bri Ehsan, 25, following his meeting with students at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley in Ferguson, Mo. Holder was in Ferguson to oversea the federal government's investigation into the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a police officer on Aug. 9th. Pablo Martinez Monsivais, pool

A citizen peacekeeper tries to keep protesters back as police advance on Aug. 18 in Ferguson, Mo. The Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer has touched off demonstrations in the St. Louis suburb where police have used riot gear and tear gas against protesters. Christian Gooden, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, via AP

Attorney Benjamin Crump, left, holds a diagram produced during a second autopsy of shooting victim Michael Brown as forensic pathologist Michael Balden speaks at a news conference Aug. 18 in Ferguson, Mo. The independent autopsy shows Brown was shot at least six times on Aug. 9 by a Ferguson police officer. Jeff Roberson, AP

Tear gas canisters hit the pavement around a woman demonstrating on Aug. 17 against the killing of Michael Brown, 18, by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. Despite the Brown family's continued call for peaceful demonstrations, violent protests have erupted nearly every night since his Aug. 9 death. Scott Olson, Getty Images

Demonstrators speak to Capt. Ronald Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, who was appointed by the governor to take control of security operations in the city of Ferguson. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown, the parents of slain 18-year-old Michael Brown, attend an event for their son at the Greater Grace Church in Ferguson, Mo. The event was lead by the Rev. Al Sharpton in support of justice for Michael Brown. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Police fire tear gas early Aug. 17 at a crowd of protesters who disobeyed the midnight curfew in Ferguson, Mo. People are protesting the shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, on Aug. 9. Roberto Rodriguez, european pressphoto agency

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Dr. Michael M. Baden, the former chief medical examiner for the City of New York, who performed the autopsy, said one of the shots appeared to have struck Brown on the top of his head, but that it wasn't immediately clear what that signified. "It can be because he's giving up, or because he's charging forward at the officer," Baden said.

The St. Louis County Medical Examiner's autopsy concluded that Brown died of gunshot wounds, but other details have not been released.

FERGUSON, MO - AUGUST 13: A police officer watches over demonstrators protesting the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown on August 13, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on Saturday. Ferguson, a St. Louis suburb, has experienced three days of violent protests since the killing. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)(Photo: Scott Olson Getty Images)

Brown was unarmed when Wilson shot him. Witnesses in the area say Brown had raised his hands to surrender when he was shot. Police have not confirmed that

Holder's action underscores the chasm between local authorities, who are leading the investigation into Brown's death, and many in the predominately black community who have expressed little confidence in the local investigation.

The Justice Department is conducting a separate inquiry into possible civil rights violations, related to the shooting. About 40 FBI agents had been deployed to the investigation at the start to assist in canvassing the local neighborhoods for witnesses.

FBI agents also have joined local authorities in some witness interviews related to Brown's shooting after those witnesses expressed doubts about the integrity of the local inquiry, a federal law enforcement official said Saturday.

The official, who is not authorized to comment publicly, said the joint interviews have involved few witnesses so far. But the concerns echo themes from waves of protesters during the past week who have cited a broken trust with local police.